— At about 2 A.M. on the 3rd October, the Cox- swain of the No. 1 Life-boat Mark Lane was called up and informed that a vessel near the North Bank had dragged her anchors, and was burning flares for assistance. He hastened to the Boathouse, and found the crew had already assembled. The Mark Lane was promptly launched, and in tow of a tug she proceeded to sea. It was blowing a hurricane at the time from the S.S.E., but an hour later the wind flew round to N.W. and blew a whole gale. A course was shaped for the vessel, and getting to windward, the Coxswain, anchored and veered; down to her. The vessel proved to '• be the Dandy barge Lord Nelson, of London, carrying a crew of four hands, ! bound from Hull to Maldon, Essex, with a cargo of coal. She. was in a ; sinking condition, but the master stated ; that with the help of the Life-boat j and tug he hoped to save her. Five Life-boatmen were put on board and com- munication was established between the tug and the barge, a wire hawser being | eventually made fast. The vessel was then towed into a position of com- parative safety until daybreak. At 5.40 A.M. the tide was favourable, and the barge and the Life-boat were safely ] towed into harbour, and the former was taken up the river and beached..